​Funding available for water safety initiatives

The NSW Government is encouraging water safety organisations, community groups and research bodies to apply for funding to help prevent drowning deaths across the state.

Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant said the Water Safety Fund Community Grants Program is open for applications until 4 August 2017.

"Tragically, last summer 41 people drowned in NSW. Where there is water there is danger and we need to get the message across to reverse the spike," Mr Grant said.

"This funding will help educate and better equip those heading into water at beaches, pools and inland waterways. We do not want another Christmas and New Year period like the last one where 17 lives were lost.

"Priority will be given to initiatives that target high-risk groups and locations that have been identified in research by Royal Life Saving."